High Conservation Value Areas

Wangaloa Creek Wetland

The Wangaloa Creek wetland in the Tokomairiro Ecological District is a large (24.9 ha) wetland site that occupies a broad valley floor in the mid-reaches of Wangaloa Creek. The wetland site is L-shaped, approximately 1.5 km long and is well linked to other valley floor wetlands in the area. The Flax swamp and copper tussock vegetation is uncommon within the Tokomairiro Ecological District and accurately represents the original 1840 vegetation cover. 

The wetland is still relatively intact likely due to the protection provided by the surrounding forests. 13.6 ha of the Wangaloa wetland is ‘Acutely Threatened’ due to <10% of the original indigenous vegetation cover remaining and 11.3 ha is ‘Chronically Threatened’ due to 10-20% of the original indigenous vegetation cover remaining. Four different habitat types and three wetland classes have been identified in the area allowing for a diverse range of flora and fauna to thrive. City Forests conducts annual environmental monitoring of the Wangaloa wetland, with external expert consultations also carried out periodically.

Shepherd Stream

Eldon’s galaxias, Galaxias eldoni (ranked “Nationally Endangered” by DOC) were first discovered in Shepherd Stream, Waipori Forest in 1990. Due to this conservation ranking City Forests classifies suitable habitat areas of Shepherds Stream as High Conservation Value (HCV). Incursions of Brown Trout, Salmo trutta; have occurred due to past flooding events and threaten the existing and future populations of Eldon’s galaxias in Shepherd Stream.

City Forests has a long-term, on-going project with the goal of removing trout from isolated tributaries in the upper part of Shepherd Stream to create pockets of suitable habitat for Eldon’s galaxias. These sections of the stream will be separated by fish barriers such as natural waterfalls or raised culverts that restrict trout migration to the protected areas. Once trout free areas of the stream are established it is possible to gain resource consent to reintroduce Eldon’s galaxias into areas of Shepherd Stream to increase population numbers. 

Feedback

City Forests invites feedback on our HCV areas at any time through our website and also extends an invitation to anybody who would like the opportunity to visit the sites.